Current and former parishioners, public officials and more gathered on April 16, Divine Mercy Sunday, to celebrate the conclusion of St. Charles Borromeo Parish’s 100th anniversary year.
“This is a joyous occasion. I hear it in your music and singing,” Bishop Edward Malesic said as he began the celebration of Mass.
The bishop referred to the Parma parish is a “cradle of priests,” noting the significant number of religious vocations – priests, deacons and religious sisters – from the parish during its first century. In fact, two men from the parish – Deacon Ian Kelly and Deacon Jeffrey Liptak – are scheduled to be ordained on May 20 as priests for the Diocese of Cleveland. Another parishioner, Jake Cermak, is a seminarian discerning the priesthood. He was among the altar servers for the centennial Mass. The bishop also mentioned numerous other men from the parish who were ordained as priests, some of whom concelebrated the Mass. In fact, more than a dozen sons of the parish and former parochial vicars were among the concelebrants for the centennial liturgy. Deacon Kelly served as the bishop’s emcee for the Mass.
(See photo gallery above.)
“Father John Carlin has been a great pastor for you since 1987 – the year I was ordained a priest. You’ve had stability, unlike me,” he quipped, noting Father Carlin’s nearly 37=year tenure at the parish and the fact that he is only the third pastor in St. Charles’ 100-year history.
“One way or another, all of you have contributed to this parish,” the bishop said, crediting past and present members of the parish community.
He also credited the parochial vicars, Father Josh Cochrac and Father Kevin Fox, Deacon John Talerico and Deacon Dan Galla, and longtime weekend assistant Father Anselm Zupka, OSB for their contributions to the parish.
The contributions of married couples and those living the single life also were thanked for their commitment and giving their energy to the parish community. “Without the vocation of marriage, we would not be able to call men to holy orders and women to the consecrated life,” the bishop said.
Also mentioned for living out their call to serve the Church were the full- and part-time pastoral administrative staffs, the school principal, teachers and catechists of the Parish School of Religion, and the many volunteers who keep the parish running.
“I saw the energy of this parish when I took a look at your website recently. And, without a doubt, this parish continues to be sustained by the support and prayers of many of our homebound faithful who also want this community of faith to not only survive, but thrive,” he said.
“In one way or another, each of you has contributed to this parish. You know this parish stands on the shoulders of those who have gone before us, a lone of shoulders that goes back 100 years. And it is now our responsibility to build for the future of this parish when others will stand on the foundation of faith that we are building up today,” the bishop added.
He pointed out three qualities of a healthy parish: a community of believers where God is worshiped, a community of faith where the Gospel is proclaimed and a community of Christians where people in need are served.
These same three qualities were evident in the early Church, the bishop said.
“Please do not keep what you do here and what you believe here at St. Charles a secret. Let people know that Jesus lives among you in this parish. Build up what you already do,” he said, mentioning the parish school, PSR, Rite of Christian Initiation and adult formation programs, all of which help build up and form children and adults in the faith by proclaiming the Gospel to them and others.
“You are forming ambassadors for Christ,” he said. “Keep up the good work, the work of evangelists. Our world is in desperate need of the Gospel of joy.”
Pointing to the rose window above the choir loft, the bishop said the image of St. Charles was surrounded by the works of corporal mercy, including feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, sheltering the homeless, visiting the sick and imprisoned, burying the dead and giving to the poor.
“In other words, a parish is meant to serve others. If all a parish does is serve itself and its own parishioners, it will eventually implode like a dying star. A parish that gives is a parish that lives. For those who serve the least among us, serve Jesus himself,” the bishop said.
St. Charles Parish had a humble beginning in a wood-frame church with 13 founding families in 1923. During the past century, the parish has undergone many changes, including rapid periods of growth and prosperity and lean, more challenging times, he noted.
“But this parish has always adapted and put into practice the words at the bottom of the Divine Mercy image: ‘Jesus, I trust in you.’ Continue to adapt. Continue to be led by the spirit. Continue to keep the faith and continue to trust in Jesus. He will not disappoint,” Bishop Malesic said.
During the Mass, the bishop blessed a large oil painting on canvas, “Our Lady of Grace,” behind a statue of the Blessed Mother. The painting is one of two that were commissioned by Father Carlin and created by parishioner and artist Sarah Liptak, sister of Deacon Liptak. It was featured in the March/April issue of Northeast Ohio Catholic, the diocesan magazine. The second painting, which will be located in the Holy Family alcove on the opposite side of the church, will be finished later.
After Mass, Father Cochrac, who coordinated the parish centennial activities, presented the parish’s youth choir, which sang two songs, one dedicated to the bishop and one for Father Carlin.
“Nothing could have pleased us more,” Father Carlin said after the children sang. He also offered his thanks to Father Cochrac for his efforts throughout the centennial celebration and expressed gratitude to the bishop for celebrating the milestone with the parish.
After Mass, the bishop, priests, deacons and servers posed for photos at the parish’s outdoor Marian shrine before heading to the Corrigan Gym for a dessert reception.
Learn more about the history of St. Charles Borromeo Parish here.